House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein is a 1944 American horror film starring Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and John Carradine. Based on a story by Curt Siodmak, it was directed by Erle C. Kenton and produced by Universal Pictures. The film is about Dr. Gustav Niemann, who escapes from prison and promises to create a new body for his assistant Daniel. Over the course of the film, they encounter Count Dracula, Larry Talbot, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster. Universal had initially planned a film titled Chamber of Horrors to include several of their horror-themed characters, but this project was halted with the idea later revived as House of Frankenstein. Filming began on April 4, 1944, with the highest budget set for a Universal Frankenstein film at that time. Filming ended in early May with screenings starting in New York on December 15, 1944. It was not among the highest-grossing films for Universal that year, but it managed to outgross other Universal horror-related output such as Ghost Catchers (1944) and The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944). Upon its release, film historian Gregory W. Mank notes that the critics "made mincemeat" out of it. Retrospective reviews focused on the absurdity of connecting the monsters together and the lack of scares in the film. A sequel titled House of Dracula that involved much of the same cast and crew was released in 1945. Plot Dr. Gustav Niemann escapes from prison along with his hunchbacked assistant Daniel, for whom he promises to create a new, beautiful body. The two murder Professor Lampini, a traveling showman, and take over his horror exhibit, which includes the recovered corpse of Count Dracula. To exact revenge on Burgomaster Hussman for putting him in prison, Niemann revives the Count. Dracula seduces Hussman's granddaughter-in-law Rita and kills Hussman. In a subsequent chase, Niemann disposes of Dracula's coffin. As the vampire scrambles to get back inside, the sun rises and kills him.